Reds Youth Academy: August & September 2021

1. Reds RBI Scholarship winner and MLB recognition
2. RBI Baseball World Series
3. RBI Softball makes it to semifinals
4. Joe Morgan Association Q&A and tour with Players Alliance members
5. Pink Party
6. Paul Kramer Game

This summer, the Cincinnati Reds RBI Senior Baseball team brought back the first MLB RBI World Series trophy to Cincinnati. The team defeated the top-seeded RBI Austin team in the championship game in Vero Beach, Fla.

The Cincinnati Reds RBI Senior Softball team dominated at regionals to get their ticket to the World Series, finishing 5-0. The girls made it to the semifinals of the World Series this year. We are proud of all the hard work and dedication the girls put into the season!

On Aug. 19, the Cincinnati Reds hosted the Pink Party at Great American Ballpark. The event included pregame elements and in-game activation during the Reds-Marlins game. With close to 500 Reds Fans participating, the inaugural event raised more than $55,000 for the Reds Community Fund as well as $2,500 for the Karen Wellington Foundation (KWF). As part of the Pink Party, three St. Elizabeth Healthcare Cancer patients received surprises from the KWF whose unique mission is to provide fun experiences for families and individuals living with breast cancer. Pink Party guests wrote the names of loved ones on place cards for a special seventh inning ceremony. Thanks to the ongoing sponsorship provided by St. Elizabeth Healthcare and a special thank you to those that attended the inaugural Pink Party!

The Cincinnati Reds and Reds Community Fund hosted the “Paul Kramer Game” on Aug. 30, honoring the long-time Kid Glove executive secretary and leader who passed away last November. The Cincinnati Reds dedicated eight Kid Glove Games resulting in more than 400 ticket sales to provide funding to local baseball and softball organizations.

The Kid Glove Program was founded in 1949 to help provide baseball and softball equipment to hundreds of area teams while providing kids the opportunity to attend Cincinnati Reds games. This year the Reds decided to continue the legacy of Paul Kramer by giving organizations the opportunity to fundraise via online ticket sales and contributing a portion of each sale back to the Kid Glove Program.

1. Academy Construction
2. Field Renovation
3. Mikes Car Wash Donation
4. Fiesta Rojos
5. Hamilton All Stars

Duke Energy began work on their Central Pipeline project in early September, which impacts our Academy softball field. We’re taking this opportunity to convert the field to a synthetic surface, with financial support from Duke Energy. The upgraded ball field will be ready by spring and at the time of completion, will mark the third synthetic infield installation at the Reds Youth Academy.

Two additional synthetic infield projects include a partnership with the City of Ludlow (Ky.) as well as the completion of a renovated field that was part of the 2021 Community Makeover in Avondale. In Ludlow, the city and school district are upgrading Memorial Park which includes a major overhaul for Lemker Field (home of the varsity baseball team). Other partners include St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the Duke Energy Foundation and Southbank Partners. Meanwhile, we also are installing a synthetic infield at Avondale Recreation/Blair Field, which is already under construction. Our long-term goal is to work with corporate and community partners to complete one new synthetic infield and major field renovation on both sides of the river each year.

Mike’s Carwash began supporting the Reds Community Fund back in 2015, starting its Ultimate Double Header promotion. This year, the promotion raised a record of $95,262 for the Reds Community Fund. The season-long promotion donates one dollar from each $15 Ultimate Wash purchased on Wednesday’s. Since the partnership began over $350,000 has been donated to the Reds Community Fund through the Ultimate Double Header program.

Students from the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies, Academy of World Languages and Roberts Academy attended the Reds Youth Academy on Sept. 24, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The students participated in a Q&A with Latino Reds players, along with pitching and hitting clinics and salsa dancing lessons.

For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month please visit, https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/.

On Sept. 25, the Reds celebrated the Hamilton West Side All-Stars baseball team that captivated the region with their run to the championship game at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., back in August.

The Hamilton West Side All-Stars are no strangers to the spotlight, having reached the World Series for the fifth time in program history. This year marked a remarkable 35 consecutive district titles for the program, which has yet to lose a district tournament. The Hamilton West Siders have also claimed 19 state titles in five decades of competition.

This year, the group posted a 14-5 record during the Little League All-Star season, with just one loss at state, two losses during the regionals and two losses during World Series play. The West Side All-Stars are the ONLY team from the state of Ohio to ever make it as far as the championship game. Their five victories during the 2021 Little League World Series are the most ever for a Hamilton West Side team. Remarkably, four of the victories were in elimination games.

The team received a Reds Country Athletic Achievement Award in recognition of their incredible run to the 2021 Little League World Series Championship Game. This Hamilton West Side Little League team is the 29th team in Reds Country to receive this prestigious award since its inception in 2015.